ABC issues news releases on the latest workforce, policy and industry issues, as well as construction-related economic data and trends. Commercial and industrial construction economic analyses include federal data on construction spending, employment, GDP and the Producer Price Index, as well as state-by-state construction unemployment estimates.

In addition, ABC produces the Construction Backlog Indicator, the only economic indicator that reflects the amount of work that will be performed by commercial and industrial construction contractors in the months ahead, and the Construction Confidence Index, a diffusion index that signals construction contractors’ expectations for sales, profit margins and staffing levels. ABC construction economic releases are published according to this schedule.

ABC and CNA to Focus on Key Safety Themes During 3rd Year of Strategic Partnership

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and CNA today announced that during their third year as strategic partners, the groups will collaborate on driving the construction industry toward world class safety by targeting specific safety issues each quarter. Their outreach and education efforts will include webinars and CNA safety resources for ABC members to use to promote workplace safety industry-wide.

“The ABC/CNA partnership is an important tool in our continued work toward developing world class safety programs,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “The resources CNA provides will further help our members achieve their goal of sending every employee home safely to his or her family at the end of the day.”

The first safety theme is “Achieving a Drug & Alcohol Free Construction Industry,” and features an exclusive webinar for ABC, presented by Michael Kim, PhD, MPH, a senior analytics consultant in CNA’s Actuarial department whose work primarily focuses on health care services and injury prevention. The webinar will present his research into the physical effects of substance abuse on the body and in the workplace. ABC is also a co-founder of the Construction Coalition for a Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace (CCDAFW). The CCDAFW advocates for all members of the construction industry to pledge to create a drug- and alcohol-free work place by implementing a stringent substance abuse policy with random testing and rehabilitation guidelines.

The remaining 2014 ABC/CNA workplace safety themes are:

Safety Culture

Productivity and Efficiency on the Jobsite

Environmental Hazards

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Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national trade association representing 22,000 chapter members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 70 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work.

Serving businesses and professionals since 1897, CNA is the country's eighth largest commercial insurance writer and the 13th largest property and casualty company. CNA's insurance products include standard commercial lines, specialty lines, surety, marine and other property and casualty coverages. CNA's services include risk management, information services, underwriting, risk control and claims administration. For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com.

Please remember that only the relevant insurance policy can provide the actual terms, coverages, amounts, conditions and exclusions for an insured. All products and services may not be available in all states and may be subject to change without notice. Use of the term "partnership" and/or "partner" should not be construed to represent a legally binding partnership. "CNA" is a service mark registered by CNA Financial Corporation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Certain CNA Financial Corporation subsidiaries use the "CNA" service mark in connection with insurance underwriting and claims activities.